The vermin are finding a lifeline from "people who don't want us to kill animals," said Jean-Claude Ndzana Ekani, a museum employee who was working Tuesday with technicians from an extermination company,

The lush area which extends into the Tuileries Gardens gives a rat plenty of places to hide, but still the critters scamper about openly, unfazed by people strolling about.

The Louvre, which owns the garden, has been trying to combat the rat problem for months but clearly hasn't succeeded. In May, sanitation officials and exterminators decided to embark on an all-out offensive: "A decision was made to do a shock operation," Ndzana Ekani said. Workers, acting methodically, were seen Tuesday pouring poison down the rat holes.

It hasn't helped.

"I see about 10 or 15 (rats) every day," said Traore Massamba, 25, a maintenance worker. "There are a lot of people who come here to picnic and they leave their leftovers, so I think that attracts them."

"I normally don't see any rats," she said. "They're not really clean animals."

No doubt Remy would be offended by such remarks.

But he might appreciate the goings on at the Louvre Garden. He was, after all, an escape artist of sorts and in the end outdid his enemies.

Rodents have long made Paris their home. In 2000, mice were caught picnicking on the delicate pastries in the window of the luxury shop Fauchon. To the west of the capital, moles are an ever-present problem at the Palace of Versailles which has its own mole-catcher.

Tourists may have to get used to an occasional rat scampering about the garden.

"We're doing everything we can. This is a recurring problem in all public gardens," Ndzana Ekani said. Given the size of the Louvre garden "we can't eradicate them."

Wow, I find this very shocking, horrid rats running around in an elegant garden? that's not good at all for the visitors and for the maker of the garden.

briannac-DiB

3/08/2015 - 01:44 p.m.

I know they must be having a lot of problems with this but I have to say that's is so cool. Rats are awesome in my opinion. I have always wanted to own a rat there just so cute. other people may disagree but this is what I think. and I think they should defiantly not kill them that would just be cruel to them.

JaylaC-Bru

3/17/2015 - 06:22 p.m.

In "Rats overrun the Mona Lisa" it states that people leave leftovers so that can attract them. I feel that is probably true because all animals are attracted to food. But if the people want to keep leaving food so that the rats can get it . If there going to picket to not kill the animals then they should learn how to pick up after there selves. Not to be disrespectful but this what I think about this article.

TreyvaunT

4/14/2015 - 01:44 p.m.

Rats/mice has to be the most dirtiest, most disgusting animals alive. I don't even like hamsters, but that is just my opinion. I would die if they were running all over town.